Boulder may relax food-truck rules, but operators say it's not enough

City could allow more trucks to operate in designated downtown areas

Boulder is considering a slight relaxation of the rules for food trucks operating in the city as truck operators continue their push for fewer restrictions.

Boulder city staffers are recommending allowing more mobile food trucks — four instead of two — to operate on private property downtown in specific areas.

The change was requested to allow for more diversity in food offerings, potentially increasing business.

If you go

What: Boulder City Council

When: 6 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Boulder Municipal Building, 1777 Broadway

Info: The meeting has been moved to today from Tuesday due to the Passover holiday. To read the memo on the food-truck rule changes and to see the complete agenda, go to bit.ly/1nn6sLZ.

The city also is recommending letting food trucks operate in designated city parks again this summer, based on a pilot last year that received positive feedback from operators.

The City Council is scheduled to take an initial vote on food truck rule changes Wednesday night, with a second vote and public hearing likely to follow in May.

Licensed food trucks now can operate in rights-of-way in industrial zones and in business, mixed-use and downtown zones with property owner approval, but they cannot operate within 150 feet of restaurants and residential districts.

The rules on operating times and locations were created three years ago in an effort to strike a balance between the food trucks and brick-and-mortar operations.

Last summer, a pilot program allowed the trucks to set up in popular Boulder parks, and offer late-night business at the Park Central Building's parking lot, near Arapahoe Avenue and Broadway. Few food trucks took advantage of the late-night option, with operators citing limited foot traffic and not enough lighting for safety.

Zebulon Randall looks up at the next ticket as Rebecca Simonds prepares an order in the Top of the Hill Grill West food truck at its location on Walnut Street in Boulder on Monday. For more photos, visit dailycamera.com. (Paul Aiken / Daily Camera)

Both the park and late-night options are expected to be available again this summer, said Lane Landrith with the city's Downtown and University Hill Management and Parking Services Division.

While not included in the current recommendation to the City Council, the city's Planning Board also suggested allowing food trucks at Boulder Junction, which is still being developed.

In a memo to the City Council, city staff members supported exploring allowing food trucks in more areas — outside of downtown — because "they can easily energize an area with activity and provide a valuable service in areas without many brick-and-mortar restaurants."

'Help people find us'

Shannon Aten, owner of the Tasterie Food Truck, said she was glad to see the City Council place the question of hours and locations on its agenda, though she described herself as cautious and skeptical about the possibility of significant changes.

While she probably wouldn't do late-night service herself, the ability to serve between roughly 10 p.m., when many restaurant kitchens close, and 2 or 3 a.m., when bars close, would make a big difference to many food truck owners.

As it is, many food trucks drive all over Boulder County and even to Broomfield, Westminster and other parts of the metro area in order to make enough money.

They're often invited by homeowners associations and other groups to monthly events. Aten said many Boulder-based food truck owners would love to have that same opportunity in Boulder, but right now, they can't serve after 9 p.m.

"A majority of our revenue comes from outside of Boulder," she said.

Food truck owners also want some easing of the restriction that they can't park within 150 feet of a restaurant, even when it's not in operation.

For downtown, that leaves a few very limited locations, mostly along Canyon Boulevard, where there is little foot traffic.

Calvin Morrow looks over his order at the Top of the Hill Grill West food truck at its location on Walnut Street in Boulder on Monday (Paul Aiken / Daily Camera)

Aten said she understands the concerns of restaurant owners who have traditionally opposed allowing food trucks downtown, but she would like to see an opportunity similar to the Farmers' Market, where a large group of food trucks could park on a closed-off 13th Street, perhaps on a Tuesday night.

"I would love to be able to park for lunch or dinner downtown, but I do understand where the restaurants are coming from," she said. "But if we could go where the Farmers' Market is for dinner, once a month, that would really help people find us instead of having to go to the outskirts of town."

'No-brainer'

John Sethney, one of the owners of Verde, also likes the idea of being able to "pod up" on 13th Street a few times a month. He said it would be good for tourism and good for residents and good for business.

"We're not allowed opportunities in high population areas," he said.

All summer, he takes his Mexican food truck to concerts, festivals and neighborhood parties, mostly outside of Boulder.

"If you're going to make it, you can't limit yourself to Boulder," he said. "We're based in Boulder, and we would love to be here more. The less I have to travel, the better."

He describes late night service as "a no-brainer."

"People stay out and drink," he said. "We're not going to take business away from restaurants."

"We have more than 100 food establishments downtown," he said. "They pay some of the highest rents and taxes in Colorado. We have to be sensitive to allowing food trucks to pull up in front and compete against them at almost no cost."